Editor’s Note: The shot clock has been reset and we’re in the early innings of a brand new year. However, we all know just how grey and cold the winter months can feel once the holidays wrap up, so comedy is continuing to do the Lord’s work by giving us something to smile (or groan, wince, or gasp) at. With homegrown talent, national headliners, and open mics galore highlighting the calendar, the plethora of powerful comedy throughout the commonwealth continues to show up, night after night. Enter Mic’d Up, our ongoing weekly series that details the best live comedy shows to consider as you head out and about. Below, find our rundown for this week, through Sunday (March 3).
Matt Friend at Crystal Ballroom
Is that Howard Stern? Jeff Goldblum? Nah, that’s Matt Friend, but it’s no stretch to say his work is worth checking out. The comedian and impressionist makes his way to the area after more than a few years on the grind, and after catching the attention of some of Hollywood’s biggest names with his spot-on voice recreations, so let him catch your attention on a stand-up stage with his eased-back storytelling and wickedly clever comedic intellect.
MATT FRIEND :: Friday, March 1 at Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square in Somerville, MA :: 6 p.m., $29 :: Advance tickets
B.J. Novak at Museum of Fine Arts
It’s been years since it was revealed that “Ryan started the fire,” but did you also know he was the perp of a legendary prank at Boston Museum of Fine Arts? Join the Newton native and star of The Office as he takes us on a stroll down memory lane at the scene of the crime to show us just how he managed to record over the facility’s audio guide, while also taking a deep dive into the artistic value of pranks.
B.J. NOVAK :: Friday, March 1 at Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave. in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m., $40 to $50 :: Advance tickets
Will Noonan & Dan Crohn at Wicked Funny Comedy Club
What’s better than one of the area’s best comedians taking the stage while you shovel in some crab rangoon, you ask? Well, two of the best. The double-headed comedy dragon of Will Noonan and Dan Crohn is a guarantee of good times on paper alone, but once things take off in a live setting, there’s no doubt about it being one of the best shows you’ll see for the price and experience it’s offering.
WILL NOONAN & DAN CROHN :: Saturday, March 2 at Wicked Funny Comedy Club, 946 Osgood St. in North Andover, MA :: 6:30 p.m., $25 :: Advance tickets
Colin Quinn at The Wilbur
Even if the world wasn’t a flaming dumpster fire, the SNL legend and comedic lighthouse would have something to say. As it turns out though, we are living amongst some crazy flames, so it’s only fair that we share in Colin Quinn’s poetically-crafted frustration with the current state of affairs, and everything in between.
COLIN QUINN :: Sunday, March 3 at The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 6 p.m., $29 to $39 :: Advance tickets